© Mikhail Tereshchenko / TASS via planet Press Photo
The planet Press photograph Foundation prevented competition winners 2025, Mikhail Tereshchenko, from attending the awards ceremony next period in Amsterdam.The change of decision was announced after Georgian anti-government activists complained that a Russian writer was praised for reporting protests in Tbilisi.
Tereshchenko, who has been a TASS staff photographer since 2017, and is known for his expressive imagination, has been appreciated for a series of photographs documenting mass anti-government protests in Georgia last year.Jury, judging his work anonymously, praised the series for highlighting “use of fireworks as fresh urban weapons” and capture dynamics "democratic movementsIt’s okay. ”However, erstwhile the author's identity was revealed, activists stated that they were ‘concerned and offended’ the designation of a Russian public media photojournalist.World Press photograph admitted that "the authenticity of the photographs themselves and the events documented by them raises no doubt" – but he bent under the force of activists and announced on Friday that "Michael Tereschenko is no longer invited to the winners' programme and awards ceremony in Amsterdam"."In view of the expanding tensions on the European continent, at this phase we are no longer able to supply a guest from a state-controlled Russian organization".Moscow condemned this movement as a political discrimination, and MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharova called it ‘self-inflicted’ planet Press photograph reputation.“It is so shameful [speak] that it would be better if they kept quiet.
The question arises: will only pictures with neutral themes – nature, flowers, butterflies be accepted for the competition?"– she wrote on Saturday on Telegram.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Pieskov said this decision “contradicts the common sense and spirit of journalistic solidarity."
Meanwhile, the head of the State Duma abroad Affairs Committee, Leonid Słucki, called the decision ‘the culture of cancellation’, Accusing Europe of discrimination against Russians "based on their ethnicity".Founded in 1955, the planet Press photograph Foundation is widely regarded as the world's most prestigious photojournalist competition, whose declared mission is "linking the planet to stories that matter”.
Zacharowa noted that TASS photographers received over 25 planet Press photograph awards from 1956 to 1992.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/russia/615695-Russian-photo-prize-eu/
